Yardley urges Oz to play Lyon on ‘seamer-friendly’ Perth pitch

Sydney: Bruce Yardley, who showed it was possible to carve a successful career bowling off-spin at the traditionally seamer-friendly Perth pitch, has urged Australia to resist the temptation to play an all-pace attack at the WACA ground by picking Nathan Lyon in the series decider against South Africa.

One of Australia`s most successful finger-spinners, Yardley was supremely confident Lyon had skill to succeed at the traditionally pace-friendly venue if given the opportunity. “I`d play Lyon, no risk. You`ve got to have some variety in your attack. I think he will bowl very well there. ``He`s taken 50 wickets at no time at all, I rate him highly. I reckon he can go somewhere,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Yardley, as saying. Yardley claimed 112 first-class wickets at 25 at the venue, including 19 victims from five Tests at less than 26 apiece, and said the WACA Ground`s traits that helped the quicks could also be turned into a weapon for a spinner. “I never used to bowl any differently at the WACA because I knew it was going to give me some pace and bounce and I`d have some lovely breezes to curve it,” Yardley said. “You can`t just fire the ball in one direction at the WACA, you`ve got to use the wind and breezes and create curve, loop and turn - Lyon can do that. I think he`l learn from the Adelaide Test. I don`t think he bowled badly at all,” he added. ANI